Sunrise

The cool waves washed over my tired feet as I walked along the shore of the endless sea. The sun was just starting to touch the sky with fingers of gold, but darkness clung to me like a shroud. I had been walking for many years, it seemed, and I yearned for rest and peace. I had been looking for relief, looking for a way to silence the voices in my head that never gave me a moment of respite. Their insidious whispers clouded my thoughts and weighed me down until I could barely lift my eyes to see the way forward. They told me that I was worthless, broken, unloved, my life was nothing but a series of mistakes. They drove me to seek solace in oblivion, in movement, through the desert, and over mountains, until my feet bled and my soul was left desolate.

I fell to my knees, exhausted and giving in to the ache that went bone-deep. I could feel the sun creeping over me, touching my eyelids with gentle warmth. I hadn’t felt warmth in so long. A gentle breeze carried a sweet fragrance that caressed my face, and I sighed at its soft embrace.

“Open your eyes,” a kind voice said.

I slowly opened my eyes and blinked against the bright light that silhouetted the form of a man standing before me. He reached out His hand to me and my eyes grew wide at the sight of His scarred palm. Tentatively, I reached out and placed my shaking hand in His. Warmth flooded through me at His touch, washing away my exhaustion and refreshing me from my head to my toes. He pulled me to my feet gently but didn’t let go of my hand.

“Who are you?’ I asked in a whisper, unable to see His face clearly in the bright light.

He stepped forward and held my hand between both of His as he answered, “I am the Way, the Life and the Truth.”

His face became clear and I gasped as I looked upon the One who is more precious than silver, more costly than gold, and more beautiful than diamonds. Seeing the love in His eyes made my knees give out, but He caught me, wrapped His arms around me, and held me close as tears spilled down my cheeks. As he held me, I felt the darkness flee, the voices be silenced and the desolate wasteland of my soul burst forth with new life as His healing presence restored me.

Laughter bubbled over my lips and I lifted my teary eyes to Him. His rich laughter joined my own and joy seeped into my bones. Laughing He lifted me up and spun me around in the golden light that covered everything around us.

He put me down and took my hand again, saying, “Come, I want you to meet my Father.”

He turned to lead me, but I stayed rooted where I stood, a panicked “Wait!” bursting from my throat which suddenly felt constricted. He looked back over His shoulder at me, a question in His eyes.

“I – I am not worthy,” I stammered, my hand pressed over my heart.

He smiled at me, patiently, and said, “Beloved, my wounds are the entrance to the Father’s heart.”

I released the breath I had been holding and stepped forward to follow Him.